Manchester UK’s first major airport to get ‘hybrid’ digital control tower
March 3, 2025
Manchester Airport is to be the UK’s first major international airport to adopt a ‘hybrid’ digital control tower as part of a project announced with the air traffic service, NATS.
The Digital Apron Management System (DAMS) – expected to go live in 2026 – is designed to enhance aircraft ground operations, improve efficiency, and boost on-time performance. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with technology firm Searidge Technologies.
The new system will feature operational-grade, ultra-high-definition panoramic cameras, offering air traffic controllers a real-time, optimised view of aircraft movements around the airport’s newly expanded Terminal 2. Live footage from these cameras will be augmented with radar data and digital overlays to streamline operations.
Gary Renault, Head of Airfield Operations at Manchester Airport, said: “We are excited to be working with NATS and Searidge on this innovative new ‘digital control tower’ approach to managing our airfield.
“Improving airfield efficiency is a key driver in our £1.3bn transformation programme which will help us unlock Manchester Airport’s full potential and deliver real benefits to people in the North. This system will decrease delays and help us operate more flights – meaning greater choice, value and flexibility for our passengers.”
As part of the project, Searidge’s DAMS will be integrated into the Ground Movement Control positions in the airport’s control tower. The system will provide controllers with crystal-clear views of 28 aircraft stands and four taxi lanes, utilising two arrays of 4K cameras.
NATS has also indicated that the system could be further enhanced with artificial intelligence. Searidge’s AI engine, Aimee, may be deployed in the future to automate aircraft turnaround monitoring and other critical functions.
The digital transformation aligns with Manchester Airport’s wider expansion plans, which include the extended Terminal 2. By leveraging advanced technology, the airport aims to ensure air traffic controllers maintain full situational awareness of all aircraft movements while improving operational efficiency.
Andy Taylor, NATS Chief Solutions Officer for Digital Towers, said: “This really is the next generation of airport operations, where the combination of cameras and Searidge’s digital technology platform enables better decision-making, which can be shared right across the airport community. The work Searidge is doing is pioneering and Manchester’s embrace of this new technology puts them at the very forefront of the industry.”
In addition to deploying the DAMS system, the first phase of the project will see NATS and Searidge establish a ‘test and development suite’ to trial additional tools before their operational rollout. A similar facility has already been set up at Heathrow, where work is underway on a fully digital contingency tower.
